What could be the punishment if you hurt a cat in ancient Egypt?

It is clearly established that, by 450 BCE, the penalty in Egypt for killing a cat was death (though this law is thought to have been observed much earlier). The goddess Bastet, commonly depicted as a cat or as a woman with a cat’s head, was among the most popular deities of the Egyptian pantheon.

Was killing cats illegal in Egypt?

While only esteemed Egyptians were able to have cats as pets, it was illegal for anyone, including royalty, to injure, harm, or kill a cat.

What happens when a person kills a cat?

In California, for example, a person who “maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal” is guilty of a felony, and is looking at a year in jail and $20,000 in fines.

How were crocodiles treated in ancient Egypt?

Its body was treated with salts, oil and resins, and wrapped in multiple layers of linen. Its last meal was still in its stomach. The demand for mummified crocodiles was intense in ancient Egypt. Thousands were bred and reared in captivity to be dispatched and expertly mummified for offerings to the potent gods.

How were cats sacrificed in ancient Egypt?

While cats were highly revered, evidence also suggests that cats were bred specifically bred for religious sacrifice. Priests raised cats who were then killed, mummified and given as votive offerings to Bastet. Religious pilgrims could pay to have a cat mummified for this very purpose.

Are cats demi gods?

1. All Hail the Cat. In Ancient Egypt, cats were often considered magical creatures who brought good luck to the people they lived with. They were closely associated with many of the gods and goddesses Egyptians worshipped, and were thought to have even been considered demigods.

Who killed my cat?